The Mountains Community Resource Network’s History of Working for Social Justice
NOVEMBER 2006 Page 2
Aims and Objectives
OUR VISION
Mountains Community Resource Network is a dynamic peak organisation whose actions are founded on social justice and community development principles. We value community and cultural diversity and we challenge inequality. On behalf of organisations, groups and individuals and concerning the Blue Mountains as a whole, the Mountains Community Resource Network will work towards achieving a socially just community in the Blue Mountains and alleviating community disempowerment caused by poverty, discrimination and human rights injustices.
OUR OBJECTIVES MCRN will initiate and co-ordinate actions which address social justice issues, using the following strategies: Networking and Advocacy
1.1 Represent Blue Mountains community organisations on local, regional, statewide and national bodies (both government and non-government), and advocate on behalf of disadvantaged groups and communities 1.2 Lead individuals, groups and agencies in the Blue Mountains to advocate for social justice 1.3 Network and collaborate with non-government and government agencies on community welfare service development, community development and developing responses to social policy 1.4 Contribute to public and social policy development by raising issues and facilitating a community response to government initiatives Community Development 2.1 Facilitate action and activities aimed at improving the wellbeing of disadvantaged individuals and groups 2.2 Initiate, support and resource the emergence of projects which address social justice and respond to community needs. In cases where there is no other appropriate sponsor, MCRN may auspice such projects, depending on available resources Facilitation and Resourcing 3.1 Facilitate a range of interagencies and forums that enable Blue Mountains community organisations to work effectively together 3.2 Facilitate community education on issues of social justice, disadvantage and prejudice 3.3 Facilitate training opportunities for community welfare workers and community welfare organisations 3.4 Provide information and referrals to community groups 3.5 Provide resources, support and promote community organisations for the wellbeing of individuals and the community Research
4.1 Seek resources for and undertake research on community needs and issues in the Blue Mountains
4.2 Promote the use of research for effective social planning.
Best Practice
5.1 Manage the organisation in accordance with best practice principles as determined in MCRN policies. August 2005 Page 3
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements Disability Development Page 85 Foreground Page 2 Volunteers Page 88 Introduction to the history Page 3 Regional alliances Page 89
Aims and objectives Page 4 Advocacy Page 95
Partnerships Page 105 History in brief Page 6
From the perspective Year by year history Page 9 of the Chairperson Page 113
Community Appendices Page 120 development Page 67 Staff and Committee Migrant development Page 79 members Page 121
Mental health Page 82 Acronyms Page 126
Community development is an interesting process for workers to engage in. It’s not just a job. For me and other workers at the Network, and for Mary, it’s more than a job. It’s a framework of reference. And it’s speaking our ideology. That’s something that I will take away. The whole concept of being able to work with the community and work with their strengths and, in my case, with people with mental health problems and carers – to capacity build the sector. Mary and others have been passionate about displaying that in their lifestyle. That’s about capturing the spirit rather than just working with skills. Not the stuff that is courage – it’s the heart stuff, being around like minded people, sharing and collaborating rather than doing things on an individualistic or a project basis. It’s the collaboration and inclusion. (Kylie Clark, 2006) Page 4
Foreground
I am always telling people that I have the best job in the Mountains and compiling this history has reinforced this. It is an honour to build on the work of many people whose energy, vision and intelligence has been brought together in the Network over the past twenty years, culminating in an organisation that is far reaching in its productivity and leadership.
This book tells some of the stories that show the life and vitality of the Network. It is a very small organisation that contributes enormously to building a strong healthy democratic community voice in the Mountains and beyond. The Network named itself the “lean tiger” in the early 1990s, with an image of being courageous, responsive and flexible. This image continues to be apt in 2006, in a political and global environment where independent community voices are needed more that ever.
The strength of the Mountains community sector is a testament to the value of resourcing community connectedness and strengthening community sector collaboration. The successes and productivity detailed in this history can be largely attributed to the energy and commitment of strategic and skilled management committee members over many years. Our thanks go to the many people who have given generously of their time, skills, contacts, experience and commitment to social justice and most of all their willingness to go the extra mile in supporting the Network. We hope we have represented them all well in this document.
Mary Waterford, Team Leader, 2000- 2006 Page 5
Introduction to the History
Welcome to the 20 year history of the Mountains Community Resource Network
Having been a member of the Mountains Community Resource Network Management Committee for six years and, as its current Chairperson, I feel incredibly honoured to write a piece for this history.
I understand that MCRN’s position is unique in the community sector. From its very beginnings, it was clear that MCRN would become a vital part of the community sector in the Blue Mountains. Its reputation has continued to grow as has its commitment to social justice and community advocacy.
This history will indicate that all staff, both past and present, have shown that it is possible, whatever the political climate, to stand firm for those who do not have a voice to speak for themselves.
We should be very thankful and grateful that we have such an organisation in the Blue Mountains and hopeful that it will continue to do this invaluable work.
My thanks go to everyone who has contributed to compiling this history. It has been a terrific team effort and an example of people pulling together – so very like the Network!
I am proud of the achievements of the Mountains Community Resource Network. I am thrilled to be part of this great group at this memorable juncture in its history and I am glad that I am a part of celebrations. They are well deserved. I commend this history to you. Happy reading!
Sue Hardwick, Chairperson. Page 6
History in Brief
YEAR EVENT PLACE STAFF
BMCC convenes a public meeting to initiate a group to be 1983 an Advisory Committee to Blue Mountains City Council. First meeting of the Blue Mountains Community Services Advisory Council held in June 1983. 1984 Granted WSAAS funding for Co-ordinator. Sandra Warn employed as first Co-ordinator April. Sandra Warn 1985 Initially housed at Springwood Neighbourhood Centre
then shared building in Raymond Road with Open House. hood Centre then Open Open Centre then hood Mountain Link bimonthly magazine commenced. Neighbour- Springwood Incorporated as “Mountains Community Resource Leigh Cupitt 1986 Network Inc.”. MCRN moved into the “Pink Cottage” Leigh Cupitt: Co-ordinator. BM Community Transport funded. MCRN auspices “Relating to Change Conference”. Helen Walker: Co-ordinator of Community Transport. Helen Walker 1987 Alex Gooding: MCRN Co-ordinator . Kate McClean Alex Gooding Lower Mountains Task Force established. Philippa Rainsford 1988 Development of Mid Mountains Community Centre Ditto Judy Finch: MCRN Co-ordinator. Judy Finch Lyn Reynolds
1989 WSAAS funding: Admin Assistant, 3 hours. Lyn Helen Walker Reynolds. MCRN initiates Social Plan work in BM. Kate McKean “Community Survival Conference”. Philippa Rainsford BM Community Transport incorporates. Judy Finch 1990 MCRN funded through DIEA MAP grant for NESB Lyn Reynolds research project undertaken by Carolyn Leigh Research. Carolyn Leigh Report called It’s not such an Anglo Community. BMCC employs Social Planner Funded by Commonwealth for research into needs of Judy Finch
1991 people with disabilities. Chris Hall (now Wolfe) employed Lawson Cottage, Pink Lyn Reynolds to prepare Directions for Blue Mountains Disabilities Services. Chris Hall (now Wolfe) Suzi Hewlett: Co-ordinator for six months. Funding for Judy Finch the part-time Grant-in-Aid project provided by DIEA. Suzi Hewlett Helena Virtanen-Pienemann: BM GIA Migrant Worker. Lyn Reynolds 1992 Helena Virtanen- Pienemann Roger Horton: MCRN Co-ordinator. Roger Horton 1993 Coalition against the Recession formed. Tracy Morgan Family Resource Centres—Nepean TRI funded. Esther O’Sullivan Nepean Consultative Committee (NCC) developed. Helena Virtanen-Pienemann Page 7
Migrant position becomes full time—Esther O’Sullivan Roger Horton 1994 Migrant Residents Association established. Tracy Morgan Save WSAAS campaign. Esther O’Sullivan Men’s Network developed.
Phil Davey - BM GIA Migrant Worker. Roger Horton Phil Davey
1995 Emergency Relief funding. Regular meetings with politicians. Esther O’Sullivan
Migrant Residents Association incorporated. Tracy Morgan
Martin Ryman: MCRN Coordinator. Roger Horton
1996 Jonathon Duignan - Migrant Worker. Tracy Morgan Coalition Against Poverty formed. Martin Ryman Carnivale 1996—30 BM events, 5000 people. Phil Davey Men’s Health and Wellbeing. Lawson Cottage, Pink Jonathon Duignan Disability coalitions developed. Elly Franchimont Disability community development project funded by WSAAS. Martin Ryman , Lisa Blakers
1997 Family Resource Centres de-funded (TRI). Jonathon Duignan BM Housing Conference. Elly Franchimont Noel Hiffernan and Mary Waterford: Disability project. Martin Ryman
1998 MCRN moved to Faulconbridge in April 1998 as they now had 5 workers Noel Hiffernan and MOCS had 12 and they didn’t all fit in the Pink Cottage! Mary Waterford TeamWest strategy established .BM Access Committee Incorporated. Lisa Blakers Disability Accommodation Seminars, Dare to Care respite advocacy. Phil Davey “Good news stories of Difference and Resistance” commenced. Everyman project funded by WSAAS. Martin , Noel, Mary ,
Faulconbridge 1999 Access the Best BM Tourism Access Guide funded by GROW. Bruce McPherson Migrant project—three year funding. Lisa Blakers NILS, FoodShare developed. Rosie Smith Mature Aged Unemployment submission. Access the Best launched. Martin Ryman
2000 Mary Waterford: MCRN Coordinator Mary , Rosie, Noel, BMCC Community Buildings Pricing Policy campaign. BM Affordable Fiona Luckhurst Housing Forum, Boarding House Reform, Respite Interagency. . Kay Spriggs / Lisa Blakers Move to Old Shire Offices in Lawson.
Mental Health seminars. RAMI established. Mary , Rosie, Noel,
2001 Connecting and Celebrating Communities event March. Fiona Luckhurst Community Building Policy campaign won. CALD youth research. Kay Spriggs First TeamWest Conference in Penrith. Racism Forum. MCRN auspices national Women & Earth Conference, Changing Hands Mary, Rosie, Noel
2002 Festival at Gundungurra Tribal Council, Clairvaux. BM. Families First Kay Spriggs strategy commences. MCRN—BMCC Disability Action Plan. Gloria Tejos NSW State Govt. - Purchaser Provider model. Disability project ends with Shifting Mountains report launch.- Minister for Offices Lawson Shire Old Mary, Noel
2003 Western Sydney. Mental Health Community Cultural Development gains Rosie Smith / Gloria Tejos project funding by WSAAS. Kay Spriggs MCRN auspices BMP4P. Kylie Clark Mental Health First Aid training, Schizophrenia Week events, Mary Waterford
2004 Cross Cultural Counseling project with BMWHC. Kay Spriggs Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters project established. Rosie Smith / Gloria Tejos Who Cares For’em. Kylie Clark
Migrant community project not re- funded. Mary Waterford
2005 Mental Health First Aid—400 participants. Miriam Bevis Small Organisations Non Government (SONG) paper and Roundtable. Kay Spriggs Campaign for ACRC recurrent funding; BMCC ATSI position successful. Gloria Tejos Connecting Justice Forum. MCRN Lawson focus commences. Nature Through Fresh Eyes funded by Australia Council and BMCC. Mary, Kay
2006 MCRN auspices Nepean Community Development Conference. Kylie Clark BM Consortium and Stronger Families Planning Group established. Cho Kyung-mi Lawson Visions strategy. East meets West cultural diversity research. Miriam Bevis MCRN 20 years + celebration. Julianne Abood Page 8
City of Blue Mountains
We recognise the traditional owners of the area, the Darug and Gundungurra peoples. Page 9
Year by Year Page
The Mountains Community Resource Network - conceived in 1983
Pre - Chris Marks (known as Chris Smith at this time) and Bob Debus (then the local State Labor MP) convened a public meeting in June 1983 to initiate the Blue Mountains Community Advisory Council. The Blue Mountains 1985 Community Advisory Council was later to be renamed as the Mountains Community Resource Network.
Whilst the first paid worker, Sandra Warn, did not commence until April Management 1985, the June 1983 to 1985 gestation period was full of activity and visionary enthusiasm. Committee Features of the local community environment Chris Smith (now Marks) Chris Smith was the Community Services Co-ordinator at Blue Bob Debus Mountains City Council. She started in 1981. This was the first position John Hibbard of its kind at Council, though there was a youth worker (the only Bob Mills permanent position), a CPO, an aged worker and a children’s services worker shared with Penrith and Hawkesbury Councils within the team. DoCS had funded 50% of community development positions since the mid 70s a result of the Australian Assistance Plan under Labor.
Bob Debus was the local Labor state member and it was his first term in office.
Peter Quirk was the Mayor (also Labor). According to Jim Angel the path for community services within Council was not always smooth: According to Chris Smith, there was I can give an account of before the MCRN was established and the “a lot of creative attitudes that were around at this time in the community and at thinking going on”. council level. I can remember taking part in debates at almost every council meeting night on whether we should have community workers at all. Every community worker employed by council, or any It was, the mechanism assistance council would give to the community sector outside was of the Western Sydney disputed and hotly debated.
Area Assistance Our community organisations and workers are now completely Scheme (WSAAS) that accepted as important to our community for the wonderful work you was the catalyst for the all do. huge upsurge in community initiated Keep it up and best wishes on your twenty year contribution to all services in the early our well being. (Jim Angel, Mayor 2006)
1980s. That these ser- Council was in the process of developing its first environmental vices are now acknowledged to be management plan. As part of this, Council initiated a coordinated strategy part of the that included fire management and environment. Chris recalled that,
establishment of the While community services infrastructure development had been Blue Mountains and strong since the mid 70s there was very little coordination regarding that the MCRN is it- service development. self celebrating its 20th anniversary in Council had received a lot of money from the Urban and Regional providing a network- Development program in the mid 70s for the first social analysis of the ing, advocacy and so- Mountains and I was keen to strengthen this when I came into the job. cial policy role on We were involved in developing a petition to the Local Government behalf of those services Grants Commission for funding for the Mountains. Our lobbying was is testament to the pretty effective at this stage. There were very few services on the ground vision and determina- though the Area Assistance Scheme had been going since 1979. tion of many. Page 11
While community services were sparsely spread, there were some services on the ground that had been funded through WSAAS between 1979 and 1981. These included Springwood Neighbourhood Centre and Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre. Separately, women’s services were being funded and there was research funding provided through the women’s collective. Blue Mountains Family Support was operating under funding by DoCS (FACS at this stage). Chris says, “These were the first initiatives that had anything to do with community development”.
A Blue Mountains Interagency was in existence but, according to Chris, it was very hospital oriented. Members included Queen Victoria Hospital, Bodington Hospital and community health. As Chris noted, in the late 70s, community health was a very strong community development organisation.
Asked about how the idea for a city wide resource organisation came about Chris replied:
I can’t remember how I got to have the conversation with Bob Debus but the conversation was that he needed better input to represent the needs of the people and we all needed a better social planning tool – we should develop an organisation that would have a brief for the sector. Then a public meeting was called at either Queen Vic Hospital or Bodington Hospital – I can’t recall which. It was a very large room and 60 people were there and we formed the first manifestation of the Mountains Community Resource Network.
Bob Debus was elected as Chairperson, John Hibbard as Secretary and Bob Mills as Treasurer. Blue Mountains City Council sponsored the initial formation of the organisation with the support of Bob Debus.
We had some funding from Council and then from WSAAS. Council for a long time had a role in funding it, resourcing it. A submission for WSAAS funding went in in late 83. (Chris Marks, 2006))
Chris had been involved in the 70s in setting up a regional structure when she worked at Fairfield. This was to become the Western Sydney Community Forum. Inner Sydney also had a similar prototype in the Inner Sydney Regional Council with Marg Barry at its helm. However, the Mountains initiative was the first LGA wide project that had got off the ground. This meant that there were few models to draw on. Chris said,
There was a lot of talking about local government, really geared towards coordination and cooperation. People were talking that way – it was a next stage of language. Council was quite on side about supporting the new structure - in terms of convening meetings, circulating minutes, not so much in putting money into it. All of our [Council community services] positions had very close relationships with the sector, a resourcing role. Mutuality - it felt more as though it was about that . Even by 1986 there was a feeling that we were losing some impetus, losing the language.
Recalling this time, Chris said that she remembered a lot about the period because “community development was really new”. She commented that there was “starting to be some pay off after 10 years of community development in Western Sydney.”.
Bob Debus had these recollections of the period:
Those who are now immersed in the vibrant community life of the Blue Mountains would find it almost impossible to imagine the dearth of community services here in the mid 1970s. There were, of course, the committed volunteers from the traditional societies and service clubs, and the workers from the fledgling Community Health team were providing a number of outreach programmes. But there were no community workers at Blue Mountains City Council, no Neighbourhood Centres with the myriad of services that they now provide, no long day care centres, no refuges, no women’s health services, no community justice programmes, no transport services, no centre-based meals services and, most importantly, no mechanism for initiating them.
It was the vision of Neville Wran when he came to government in 1976 to fast-track services to Western Sydney through funding to Local Government and the dogged determination of then Alderman Thelma Murphy to seize that opportunity, that saw the first community worker – the Youth Worker – appointed to Blue Mountains City Council in the late 1970s. Thelma had argued long and hard that Council’s responsibilities extended beyond roads and gutters to include the well-being of the residents themselves. By dint of sheer attrition a Youth Worker was finally appointed, to be quickly followed by other workers in Children’s Services, Aged Services and the Arts. (Cont. Column P.12 ) Page 12
What Happened?
When preparing for incorporation, the Mountains Community Services 1985 Advisory Committee was renamed the “Mountains Community Resource Network”.
1986 MCRN employed its first worker, Sandra Warn, in April of 1985. Sandra’s job was to set up the organisation – no mean task when the aims were lofty and broad ranging. To boot, there was no home. Through their invitation, Sandra set up an office at Open House in Springwood.
When I first started in the job, it didn’t have a home. I basically hit on some friends of mine who worked at Open House (a fostering program in Springwood) and they let me use a room in their premises. I think that Leigh Cupitt, the worker after me, might well Staff have been the worker who took MCRN to the Pink Cottage. (Sandra Warn) Sandra Warn Leigh Cupitt The first audit was conducted by Martin and Luscombe, covering the period to 31 December 1985. This audit indicates a WSAAS grant of $22,518 and $325 of member’s subscriptions as the sole income.
Management The Western Sydney Area Assistance Scheme (WSAAS) was started Committee in 1979. Western Sydney was the first region to enjoy the benefits of this far sighted grant scheme that aimed to address inequalities and Louise Redmond disadvantage in particular communities. WSAAS is the funding (President) source at the origins of many continuing Mountains services eg Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre, the Mid Mountains Community Marion Hawley Centre., youth services. (Judy Finch, 2006) Judith Venn The first two goals of the organisation demonstrate an ambitious breadth Maureen Evans of vision: Alison Purcell 1. To act in a formal consultative role to the Blue Mountains Jan Kerrison City Council and other levels of government. Chris Magill (ex-officio) 2. To involve individuals – community groups – government and semi-government bodies in developing a co-ordinated approach to the issues affecting, and the needs, of people in There were the Blue Mountains. 60 member Organisations HACC
MCRN was closely involved in the local Home and Community Care (HACC) forum, acting as a resource for the group. This was in the relatively early days of the development of HACC.
Early regional interests were demonstrated through participation in the Western Sydney Regional HACC Forum.
Page 13
Transport
Lobbying commenced for health related transport. The goal was to provide a The Home and scheme in which volunteers transported people to hospitals and allied health Community Care (HACC) care. Interestingly, health related transport remains a major gap still in 2006! Commonwealth MCRN also took part in an important Western Sydney Transport State agreement Conference. Leigh Cupitt later worked with the local community transport was finalised in action group who applied to HACC for funding for a transport co-ordinator. December 1985. They received a grant of $44,000. This would become the base for the There had been longstanding Blue Mountains Community Transport Service (renamed in several years of 2005 Great Community Transport as they expanded into Penrith). planning involving Community Accounting Scheme community workers and A shared accounting system was set up to handle community groups’ groups accounting needs and to assist with preparing audit ready statements. For this prior to the project a computer was donated by the Macquarie Legal Centre in agreement being Parramatta. This must have been the first computer owned by a community finalised. group in the Mountains. (Leigh Cupitt)
Information The Blue MCRN’s newsletter, Mountain Link, was produced and 250 copies Mountains has a distributed bi-monthly. A library was established for community use. MCRN long history of continues to maintain a substantial library but paper based newsletters have active involvement of long been replaced by information bulletins in electronic format, emailed out. residents in the planning and When I look back on it, it was a pretty demanding job. I’ve a newsletter here provision of that I put together when I was with the project – ‘The Mountains Community community Resource Bureau’s work will continue to focus on lobbying about policies services that are and issues cutting across community needs and services, and resourcing needed here. groups in the area of community management, funding and submission (Louise Redmond) writing.’
I think it was just the initial thing of people not understanding, of feeling that someone’s coming in and walking on our territory; that people felt that they Council would not already had their own networks and everything was fine, thank you very have seen much much. Partly , it was that MCRN was funded and it was a fact that a lot of difference between community services didn’t receive government funding. They were not run what we picked up unprofessionally but they were not run by professionals. That era was coming and what the to a close. (Sandra Warn) Network picked up. It was much more straight forward and an assumption that you would only get what you wanted if you had everybody on board.
The notion of oppositional politics wasn’t as out there. (Chris Marks)
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The Growing Organization
1986 saw the finalisation of the organisation’s incorporation and it’s third 1986 AGM was held in this year. Leigh Cupitt, previously from Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre, started in January 1986. Upon the arrival of Leigh and the departure of Sandra, the Chairperson, Louise Redmond, said:
1987 The Network greets the year with a change of staff. Sandra Warn our first co-ordinator, moved onto a position as social worker at Katoomba Area
Health Centre. Sandra contributed an enormous amount to the Network,
especially in those difficult early months. She took on a job that had little Staff shape and direction, but great scope and potential, used that scope to
build the Advisory Council into a viable organisation. She has established the credibility of the Advisory Council and helped form its direction in the coming year. (Louise Redmond, )
MCRN moved to the Pink Cottage in Lawson. As reported in the Mountain Link, “After much negotiation the Mountains Community Resource Network and the Blue Mountains Community Mobile have finally moved into 3 New Street, Lawson (not much bigger than Snoopy’s kennel but gratefully received)”. Chris Marks said:
I was the Community Services Co-ordinator within Council. I was particularly trying to locate Council properties which could be made available for community use. Leigh Cupitt
Vicki Gonzales John Metcalfe, the civic engineer at the time, and I must have been having Helen Walker a meeting together and I told him that I was having trouble finding Mary Todd properties and he said “Come with me”. We hopped into the Council car and drove around the mid Mountains – we called into the Pink Cottage. Trisha Holloway John said it was going to be knocked down and all to do with the widening of the highway but it’d be ten, fifteen, twenty years before that happened. Management So he said, “That house is available”. Committee Now this was some of the direct result of me helping [Council] to move Mrs Barnes from under the bridge. The Yeoman bridge was being Louise Redmond planned. Mrs Barnes lived at the other end past Megalong, her place had Chairperson to be pulled down to allow for the bridge construction. I managed to Judith Venn convince her. (Chris Marks (then Smith) Lizanne Emery Family Day Care moved into the Pink Cottage in 1983 and vacated so that Elizabeth Middlebrook MCRN and MOCS could move in in 1986. FDC moved to the Old Shire Rosemary Bishop Building across the highway at this time. They [MCRN] were told, as Maureen Evans future occupants would also be told, that the building was about to be Alex Gooding demolished. In fact, the Pink Cottage was not finally demolished until June 2006. (Bev Foden, 1997) Alison Hill Ian Hill Formerly a two-bedroom residence, the ‘Pink Cottage’ located at Chris Magill (ex-officio) 3 New Street Lawson was, like many homes in it’s generation frugal— Alison Purcell conveniences were minimal and the wiring fraught. Martin Ryman Despite this, the Cottage played host to multiple services and as many as 13 workers at any one time. Space or the lack of it was an issue foremost in the memories of the people who worked there. First impressions of the Cottage as a workplace have often left indelible memories! (Pink Cottage history) Page 15
MCRN submitted to the Department of Youth and Community Services (YACS) to pick up funding from WSAAS. A grant of $46,130.67 was sought and received. Within this grant, MCRN applied for salary for a full time community worker and 20 hours of clerical assistance.
Co-ordinated approaches to issues affecting the Mountains
Examples of coalitions in 1986 included: Child Protection, Coalition Against Poverty and Unemployment, Employment Forum, Community Transport, Consultation on Women’s Issues, community consultation for WSAAS, Campaign for a Just Society (a NCOSS campaign – STOP THE CUTS against welfare cuts in the Federal budget) and the Social Security Review.
A coalition in practice Louise Redmond The Blue Mountains Economic Development Forum was sponsored by the Network to bring together community based organisations with Council, local businesses, CES and TAFE to look at employment options outside the hospitality industry. The group drew up a proposal for an authority to have a specific employment and business development charter.
Early involvement in WSAAS development
MCRN initiated what was to become a long standing tradition of taking joint responsibility with Council for the annual WSAAS consultation process. This was in addition to participation on the Priority Rating and Review C’tee.
Relating to Change conference Kay Bazley, KNC and Leigh and her associates from the Co-ordinator’s Forum were involved in Conference Co-organiser planning for a major conference for community workers. The conference was called “Relating to Change” and was held in Mt Victoria at the Victoria and Albert Hotel. It attracted 240 participants from Bathurst to Sydney. This huge interest indicated community worker’s thirst for “…a mechanism to Four submissions develop and extend discussion of issues vital to the effective operation of the community services sector”. (Louise Redmond) were submitted on behalf of the This conference was the first of its kind to draw together all aspects of local HACC community work and address issues such as community management, Forum. industrial issues, and community groups as agents of change and
bureaucrats as agents of change.
The most memorable achievement was the large conference we held in Mt Victoria. It became an instant success and the numbers far exceeded expectations. People came from all over NSW. Kay Bazley was Coordinator of the KNC and was a major support in pulling off the conference. It was done on a shoestring. Hours were spent in front of a photocopier passing coloured manila folders through to make somewhat professional looking conference folders. (Leigh Cupitt, 2006)
The September 86 “Relating to Change” conference was the best community development conference around. Leigh was good in that job. (Chris Marks)
Community development in action
This year saw work towards the introduction of neighbourhood centre services in the mid Mountains and the lower Mountains (the fastest growing areas in the Mountains). Mountain wide groups set up programs in the Lower Diana Clark & Helen Walker Mountains such as tenancy advice, outreach programs and legal advice. Page 16
Child Protection and international activism
MCRN worked with CAPIG to increase child protection services in the As a worker I feel t Mountains and assisted the newly funded Gunedoo to develop its child hat we need to not protection framework. A funded place was secured at the International only provide services Child Abuse Conference and this was shared by four local workers. much needed by the Community Transport community, but to also challenge the Blue Mountains Community Transport was funded through WSAAS this system that creates year and Helen Walker was employed as the Co-ordinator, commencing in disadvantage for November 86. With its own Steering Committee, Community Transport many people and to operated as a semi-autonomous sub-committee of MCRN. continue to advocate for the Mountains. Helen is still in the job though the 20 year long service has changed its shape (Leigh Cupitt, 1986) and size dramatically over the ensuing years. Helen’s initial role was to establish and co-ordinate a volunteer driver’s scheme (setting a scheme up from new in the upper Mountains and supporting an exiting scheme in the Springwood and Blaxland areas), co-ordinating utilisation of the community access buses and others belonging to community groups, assessing transport needs assessment, lobbying and development.
Regional development
This year saw considerable involvement in Western Sydney Community
Forum and particularly in sub-committees around the Management Skills in MCRN developed the Community Sector program, Management Training Unit, HACC. and ran management training workshops across the Mountains.
[it is] apparent that a more advanced form of training is necessary for large organisations. (Leigh Cupitt, 1987)